Posting tray



G. W. NEWMAN POSTING TRAY Dec 7, 1926.

Filed June 15, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1:1 51:1 :1 5 oyeif/l/ezwgrzarr- Dec. 7 1926.

G. W. NEWMAN POSTING TRAY Fild June 15, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jive . aw .R mm s v E a elf/142M414?! Dec/7,1926. 1,609,570

G. W. NEWMAN POSTING TRAY Filed June 13. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 7, 1926.

cs. w. NEWMAN POSTING TRAY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 Filed June 15, 1923 similar upwardly extending frusto-conial projections stamped therein. \Vhen the strip 9 is in the position shown in Figure 5, the fluted strips or tracks 6 lie below the smooth top of the plates 3 and 1 but when the strips 9 are moved rearwardly, the projections 10 will ride under the projections S and elevate the fluted strips (3 in a plane above the smooth surfaces of the plates 3 and 4, so that the loose leaves will be supported upon the fluted strips. These cam strips 9 are automatically controlled as will be later explained.

A carriage 11 is slidably supported in the rear end of the tray. This carriage consists of a plate extending transversely of the tray and provided with lateral upstanding flanges 12 at its ends. The upper ends of these flanges are formed with arcuate suraces, the rear ends of which terminate in stop shoulders 13 (Figure 2) and the front ends terminating in notches 14:, the front ends of the notches terminating in stop shoulders or abutments 15 for a purpose to be later set forth. The carriage 11 is provided with upwardly stamped depressions 11 directly over the grooves 5 so that the fluted strips 6 may be elevated. Strengthening plates 11 may be welded or secured to the top of the carriage for reinforcing the same.

A rear late al support 16 is hinged to the rear carriage 11. The hinged connections consist of narrowstrips 17 having two arms at ri ht angles to each other, one arm of each eing welded or secured to the support; the other arm extending parallel with the side flanges 152 and being provided with a pivot 18 extending through a suitable bearing slot 18 in the adjacent side flange 12.

The carriage 11 is adapted to be longitudinally adjusted by means of a screw shaft 19 (Figure 2) which is suitably journalled at its end in l ackets 20 secured to the bottom of the tray and located in the space between the plates and t. A nut or block 21 is threaded upon the screw shaft, 19, and a plate is attached to said block and secured to the carriage 11 by screws or the like. This plate overlaps the plates 3 and 1- upon their under side as shown in Figure -l-. The plate 22 is provided with a raised portion 2% that fits in the space be-- tween the plates 3 and at and serves as a guide. The raised portion may he formed by welding a narrow strip upon the plate The forward end of the screw rod 19 is of polygonal form and extends into a ey lindrical barrel 21 attached to the front end of the tray and is adapted to be operated by a key for which a suitable key hole has been provided in the front end of the tray. Thus by turning the screw rod, the nut block 21 may be longitudinally shifted to advance or retract the lateral support 16 for adjusting the leaf-holding space. The key for such purpose may be retained in a suitable spring clip 25 upon the lateral support 16. An angle clip 26 is attached to each lateral margin of the lateral support16 and the outstanding flanges of the clips are adapted to ride upon the lateral flanges 12 of the carriage. lVhen the support 16 is in upright position, the outstanding flanges of the clips will be positioned in the notches 14, and retain the support in vertical position. The support 16, however. may be raised and tilted backwardly to bring the clips 26 against the rear stop shoulder 13 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.

Another movable carriage 27 is positioned transversely of the tray in the front part thereof and is provided with lateral flanges 28 having arcuate or curved surfaces at the ends of which are limiting stops 13 and 15 similar to those on the vertical flanges 12, the slots 18 allowing suflicient movement of the pivot pins 18 for such a purpose. A front lateral support 29 for sustaining loose leaves is hinged to the carriage 27 by means of hinge strips 17 secured to said support and having outstanding arms provided with pivot portions 18 entering hearing apertures in the lateral flanges of the carriage in a manner similar to the hinging of the rear support. The lateral margins of this front support are provided with clips 26 similar to those on the rear support; they are adapted to ride over the tops of the lateral flanges and abut the stops.

The carriage 27 is slidably anchored to the bottom plates 3 and 1 which are providedwith proper slots 30 extending rearwardly from the front ends. Plates 31 and 32 (Figure 3) overlapping respectively the lower and upper margins of the slots 30 are bolted or secured in some appropriate way to the carriage 27. The upper plates 32 extend to the rear edge of the carriage while the lower plates 31 extend beyond the rear end of the carriage and tiller strips 31 (Figure 1) of a size to lit the slots 30 are welded to the top of the plate 31 so as to lie in the slots 30 and form guides.

The front support 29 is adapted to be tilted and then moved with its carriage by means of mechanism extending exteriorly of the tray. To this end a pair of metal straps 33 or the like are provided with cylindrical bearing loops at each end, the inner ends being suitably pivoted between ears on the support 29 as shown in Figure l, and the outer ends lOCQlVll'lfI the bent ends 3-1 of crank arms which are integral with a rod extending transversely of the -.front end of the tray and having an offset handle portion 36 extending through an opening in the front end of the tray, the rod being journalled in suitable bearings 37 secured upon the front end of the tray adjacent said is formed- With a fingerslot 39' at :its upper end for drawing the'tray from, a cabinet.

The offset handle-2560f the crank rodis designed to fit Within the label box as shown iii-Figure 2. Now assuming that'the parts'are, infullline osit-ion asf sho wn in Fi ure 2 and; the handle 36; is grasped and pu led outwardly into the first "position indicatedby dotted lines, this movement Wilt-tilt the support 29-into the dotted-line position in which the clips 26 rest against 'lthe shoulders Further movement of thehandl'e 36 into the second dotted-line position will shift the carriage 27' and its support 29 forwardly as indicated in dotted lines. Reverse movement of the-handle 36 will restore the parts to full-line positions; the connection between the crank arms andstrapsv 33 being forced below dead center as shown in: Figure 2, and sustained in. such position by angle clips 40 secured to the top of the carriage; 27-,'thuswise locking the front support 29- in its inner adjustedposition.

The front support 29 is operatively connected With the a'foredescribed slidable cam plate 9 forshif-ting-the same for elevating.

the tracks Gduring the tilting movements of said support. In'the present instance, the forWa-rdfi'end of each shift-able cam plate 9- is provided with an upstanding bifurcated lug 4e1- (Figures 5 and 6') and-into the bifurcations ofthese lugs there extend pivot pins 42' which in turn extenchfrom the lower ends of downwardly inclined struts 43: secured at their upper ends to the support-29. The tracks 6 are suitably slotted at their forwardends as indicated M44; in Figure 1 to receive the struts 413', and thecarriage 2-? is likewise suitably slotted to allow the struts 43' to pass therethrouglr as shown Figure 1. The carriage 12:7fis also provided with raised portion directl over the tracks sothat they may be-suirta lyelevated;

hen; the front support 29 isti ltedit will shift the cam plate9 from the. position shown: in Figure 5 to-the.-positionshown.in Figure. (l thereby elevating the tracks 6 aboye the smooth surface :ofthesheet-metal: constructionf The uppercani plates. 'Zlare proyidedwith studs 45"attheir forward-ends (Figures 1 and 5) which extend! through-the slots inothe tracks 6 and: through apertures in the; carriage 27 Accordingly when the carriage 27 is shifted forwardly the cam. plates 7 and 9? will slide longitudinally therewith; the upper; cam plates 7" being drawn along by the. studs 4.5, and the lower cam plates 9? being drawn along by theqconnection of the struts 43: witlithe. bifurcated blocks 41. Therefore, the tracks" 6: will re.- mainin elevatedposition during-and after the. fiorward shifting of: the. front carriage so that the supporting edges of the sheets;

will always be supported-by the tracks 6 during the posting operation. The tracks .6 p

tracks are anchored against longitudinal n'ioyeni ent by means of studs 46 secured to the bottom of the. tray and: extending through apertures in. the rear. ends of the tracksasshoivnlin Figures 5'and16. The.

upper: ends of these studs arev preferably is clamped. oyer to prevent the tracks from becoming dislocated. These studs extend; loosely through the tracks so as not .to intertere with their vertical adjustment.

Theloaver ends of the lateral supports 16 and are preferably providedI with horizontally extendingifeet or. flanges -11? which restI- uponfthe slidable carriages and form base supports for said lateral supports, and to reinforce the supports diagonal braces l8 may be attached thereto as shown, in Figure 4.

The loose. fined between the. supports 16 and :29 upon. a longitud-inallyv extending rod 49 suitably leaves are adapted tobe con supported in theends of the tray and spaced a short distance above the top of the plates 3 and The loose leaves are ofcourse, perforatedi to. receivethe rod. Such-a rod support for the leaves is old; and Well known. Its function is merely tov hold the leavesin proper alignment. The lower edges of the leaves rest upon the top. of the plates 3. and a which may be termed the bottom of the tray and will thusWise be understood; in the appended claims.-

The operation ofr thetray in use isbriefiy as toll-owe; r ssuining the tray to be in a. cabinet, it is drawn outwardly; the rear support 16' is then. tilted; the handle 36 is then pulled out from-the label box. The first movementof the handle will tilt the support 29, and continued movement there of will. drawn the carriage and support forwardly. to provide a. good ivorkingspace so that the leaves may be inclined against the rear support, bringing the first sheet into good View for posting. As the posting proceeds, the sheets are turned and inclined against the front support 29. vLVhen the posting operation, is completed and it' is desired :to return} they tray in the, cabinet, the; rear support is. first untilted, then the hand-1e36, is swung upwardly into the label box. The. first part ofsuch:movenflfil tv of the handle will untilt the front support 29 and lower the serrated tracks 6, the second part of such movement will shift the support 29- rearwardly and compress the leaves against the rear support 16.

Some of the advantages arising from the atoredescribed structure and operation consist in the expansible feature of the tray in that the rear support 16 may be longitudinally rdjusted .in a simple way to increase or decrease the capacity of the tray. Another ad antage resides in the feature of depressing the serrated tracks 6 when the trout support is contracted or shifted rearwardlv to compress the loose leaves, so that the lower edges of the leaves will slide over the smooth surface of the bottom whereby the lower edges are not likely to be torn or frayed as would be the case if the tracks were not lowered. A further advantage resides in the fact that the rear support may he tilted rearwardly so that the loose leaves may lean thereagainst, and that the trout support may be shit'ted forwardly to provide room for separating the leaves and properly inclining the same rearwmdly. The tilting of the forward support will of course afi'ord more ready access to the sheets. These features render the tray very handy in use.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing: from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim 1. In a postingtray, a bottom having depressed guideways, serrated strips in said guideways a support, a second support movable relatively to the first support and means connecting said ser'ated strips and second support for elevating and lowering said strips during the movement of said second supper.

2. In a posting tray. a rearwardly tiltable support, a forwardly tiltable and movable support, and leaf-supporting means controlled by said movable support.

3. In a postingtray. a bottom having lon- {z'itiulinally extending smooth portions and serrated portions. a movable support and means connecting said serrated portions and support tor raising and lowering the former.

it. In a posting tray. a screw-threaded element extending longitudinally thereof, a support. connected to said element for longitudinal adjustment thereby a second support and means exterior of said tray and connected to said second support for tilting the same.

In a posting tray, a longitudinally adjustable support, a second support, and means exterior of said tray connected to said second support and operative for first tilting the same moving the same.

6. In a posting tray, a longitudinally adjustable support, a second support and means for first tilting and then moving said second support 7. In a posting tray, a pair of carriages adjustably supported upon the bottom thereof. vertical supports hinged to said carriages and tiltable in opposite directions, and means exterior of said tray for tilting and shifting one of said carriages.

9. In a posting tray having a bottom with longitudinal ways, sheet-supporting tracks mounted in said ways, adjustable lateral supports for the sheets and means controlled during the adjustment of one 0t said lateral supports for adjusting said tracks.

9. In a 1 osting tray, a longitudinally ad justable rear support. a forward support and means for tilting and shifting said forward support, said means serving in one position to lock said forward support in contracted position.

10. A posting tray having smooth portions tor normally sustaining loose leaves, and serrated portions adapted for sustaining said leaves at predetermined times and means tor adjusting said serrated portions.

11. In a posting tray for holding loose leaves, the combination with means for contracting and expanding said leaves, of stationary and movable means for vertically ustainine" said leaves and a connection beand then longitudinally tween said movable means and contracting for sustaining loose leaves and means for adjusting said elements 13. In a posting tray adapted for containing loose leaves, the combination with ad- 1i ustable lateral supports for said leaves and relatively movable longitudinal base supports for said leaves controlled by the position of one oi? said lateral supports.

14. In a posting tray adapted for containing loose leaves a bottom having spaced longitudinally-extending depressions. fluted strips in said depressions and means for latorally sustaining said leaves and raising and lowering said fluted strips.

15. In a posting trav adapted for containing loose leaves. a bottom having open groovesv transversely fluted strips in said grooves each having cam-like projections upon its lower surface. slidable members in said grooves beneath said strips and having upwardly extending cam projections, adjustable lateral supports for said leaves and means connecting said slidahle members with one of said lateral supports.

16. In a posting tray adapted for containing loose leaves, a bottom having spaced grooves, -transyersely fiuted strips; innsaid grooves, T slidable "members: inf said jgrooves I beneath said strips, said strips and ni'embers having opposed cam. surfaces, lateral slipports for said 7 leaves, ,means conne g" slidable members. withQQne of 'saic lateral,

ting said supportsand 'means for shifting said 'lastmentioned lateral support.

l'a p ting ,tray adapted forkcontaining loose leaves, a pair of relatiyely taining loose leaves, a pair of relatively shiftable lateral supports adapted for expansion and contraction, a bottom having serrated strips for sustaining said leaves when said supports are expanded, operating mechanisms for first tilting and then moving one of said supports and means connecting said serrated strips with the last mentioned support for elevating said strips prior to the shifting of said support,

19. Ina postingtray, a bottom having vertically movable serrated strips, cam-like projections on the bottom of said strips, a slidable member having cam projection below each strip, a U-shaped bearing member upon each slidable member, a movable carriage, a tilting support thereon and a connection between each U-shaped bearing member and said tiltable support.

20. In a posting. tray, a longitudinally movable carriage, a lateral support mounted upon said carriage for tilting movement, a pair of metal straps pivoted to said support, and a U-shaped rod having its ends pivoted to said straps'and an intermediate portion extending exteriorof said tray.

21. In a posting tray, a bottom having longitudinally extending fluted strips, means for raising and loweringsaid fluted strips, a lateral support for said leaves mounted for tilting movement and a connection between said means and tiltable support for operating the former during the tilting movements of the latter.

22. In a posting tray, shiftable lateral supports between which the leaves are normally confined, a bottom having vertically movable fluted leaf supporting strips and means connecting said fluted strips and one of said supports for depressing said strips below said smooth portion prior to the shifting of said supports toward each other.

23. Ina posting tray. the combination with contractible and expansible tiltable supports between which the leaves are confined, a botton having a smoothportion and a serratedj strip below saidis noothportion when said supports are' contracted, and

-means connecting said strip with one'of said supports whereby said strip isfelevated-prior "to the jiexpansion of said supports.

24. In a p'ostin'g tray, a bottom-having a fluted strip-adapted to be raised or lowered, jfa i lateral support for the leaves mounted for "tiltable'ia'nd longitudinal movement, slid- F able'member undersaid strip, said strip and member "having cooperating cam surfaces and a connection between said strip and support, said connection raising said fluted strip when the support is tilted in one direction and lowering the same when the support is tilted in the other direction.

25. In a posting tray, a bottom having a fluted strip adapted to be raised .or lowered, 1

an adjustable lateral support for sustaining loose leaves. a sliclable member beneath said fluted strips for raising the same, and a connection between said support and strip whereby the adjustment of said support governs the position of said strip.

26. A tray binder comprising a container tray, two sets of floors therein one set having a normal level below that of the other set, rear and front support plates to clamp sheets, and means actuated by the movement of the front plate for elevating one of the sets of floors and for maintaining it elevated during further movement of said front plate.

2-7. A tray binder as in claim 26, in which the front plate is capable of independent rocking at the limits of its inward and outward movements.

28. In a tray binder, a clamping plate structure comprising a carriage to which the clamping plate is pivoted, means for guiding the carriage, toggle levers pivotally supported by the tray, and toggle links pivoted to said levers and to the carriage. whereby said plate is operated by a single movement of said levers.

29. A filing device for loose sheets comprising a container, rear and front plate rests for the sheets, floor supports for the sheets having smooth and frictional surfaces respectively, and manually operated means for causing all the sheets to be supported on either the frictional or smooth surfaces as may be desired.

30. A filing device for loose sheets, comprising a container, rear and front plate the bottom edges of all said sheets to be wholly upheld by one or the other of said supports.

32. In a device of the character described, a filing container for loose sheets having floor portions with smooth and frictional surfaces respectively, clamping plates for the sheets, and means for changing the comparative levels of said floor port-ions Wherey all said sheets will be Wholly upheld by one or the other of said portions.

33. A filing device vfor loose sheets, comprising a container, rear and front clamping plate rests for the sheets, floor supports for the bottom edges of the sheets having smooth and frictional surfaces respectively, and means for selectively causing all the sheets to be Wholly upheld by one or the other of said surfaces.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- 20 scribed my name.

GEORGE \V. NEWMAN. 

